Breast-collar and neck-strap coupling



(No Model.)

I s. P. SMITH. 7 BREAST GOLLARAND NECK STRAP COUPLING.

No. 362,549. Patented May 10, 188-7.

O Flc l g WITNESS E5 iNvEN mR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEWARD F. SMITH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

BREAST-COLLAR AND NECK-STRAP COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,549, dated May 10, 1887.

Application filed September 8, 1386. Serial No. M2985. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEWARD F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Breast-Collar and Neck-Strap Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for forming a coupling or attachment of the breast-collar and neck-strap for harness and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a neat, simple, and effective coupling of this class at a low cost of manufacture; second, to so form a connection between said parts as to render the use of the well-known breast-collar tug, consisting of a short looped strap, buckle,and ring, unnecessary; third, to so form and locate said coupling as to prevent its rubbing against the horse, and to prevent the lines catching on the ends of the neckstrap. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompaning drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an outer side view of my device when in use, showing a portion of the breastcollar layer broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the neck-strap withdrawn. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a modification of the coupling, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the coupling.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents that portion of the breast-collar of harness to which is usually attached the neck-strap B.

0 represents my coupling, consisting of an oblong metallic plate having its sides on its lower half slightly bent forward, and having its upper portion provided with a suitable strap-hole, h. Oast therewith, and made to project forwardly from the coupling-plate at a point in its upper half and near the center of its width, is a short pin,f, and formed in its lower half is a rivet-hole, g. Projecting laterally from each side of the plate 0, at a point on its lower half, is a short lug, c.

The coupling-plate having been placed, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in a vertical position against the outer side of the breastcollar, so as to project slightly above the top thereof, short leather strips E E, having their outer ends slightly beveled and having their remaining ends provided with a central notch, are placed against the outer side of the breastcollar on each side of the coupling-plate, in such position as to cause their notched ends to bear against the sides of the plateCand admit of the lugs c dropping within said notches.

The leather layer D, which is usually a continuation of the tug, is then placed transverselyacross the coupling-plate and sewed on either side thereof to the face of the breastcollar A and through the notched strips E, thus forming a keeper at the point where it crosses the plate 0 for the lower end of the neck-strap B,which latter, being made to pass through the strap-hole h from the rear, extends downwardly behind the keeper formed by the layer D, and, lying within the flanged sides of the plate 0, is firmly secured therein by allowing. the pin f to project through a tongue-hole in the neck-strap B. In order to more firmly secure the coupling-plate in this position, a rivet may be made to pass through the rivethole g and breast-collar A.

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, I may substitute for the rigid pinf the loose tongue 1', pivoted to an arm, it, made to extend transversely between the sides of the plate.

By the use of the above-described coupling it will be seen that a strong and durable connection is formed between the neck-strap B and breast-collar A, and that, the coupling be; ing formed on the outer side of the breast-collar, the coupling-plate is prevented from rubbing against the side of the horse.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The coupling-plate 0, having the strap, hole h, projecting tongue or pin f, rivet-hole g, and lugs c, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a neckstrap and breast-collar coupling, the combination of the coupling-plate 0, having strap-holeh, lugs 0, and pin f, with the notched strips E and layer D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

STEVVARD F. SMITH.

\Vitnesses: W. S. SHEPHERD,

M. RoDeE s. 

